India is expected to overtake the U.S. to become the world’s second largest smartphone market this year, and Apple has been trying for years to grab a bigger piece of the action. Global rival Samsung(SSNLF) currently dominates the Indian market, but Chinese brands such as Oppo and Vivo are also becoming increasingly popular.

Apple’s efforts to set up retail stores in the South Asian nation have so far been stymied by rules that require foreign vendors to build their products locally.